Rear-View Camera as Tailgate Switch
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for controlling a vehicle's tailgate require a separate switch, which occupies space and prevents the rear-view camera and license plate illuminating lamp from being centered, increasing manufacturing costs and causing functional inconvenience.
Innovation Solution
The rear-view camera is used as a switch to control the tailgate, eliminating the need for a separate switch by determining if the image brightness decreases due to an object and confirming the vehicle is in a parking mode or stopped, allowing the tailgate to be opened without a physical switch.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a separate switch is provided for controlling the tailgate, then the tailgate can be manually opened and closed, but the license plate illuminating lamp and rear-view camera cannot be located at the center of the vehicle
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the function of a separate tailgate switch with the rear-view camera by making the camera act as the switch. When the camera detects a specific condition (such as being covered or a specific gesture), it triggers the tailgate to open, eliminating the need for a separate switch and allowing symmetric component layout.
Solution Approach 2:
The rear-view camera serves dual functions: it captures rear-view images for driving assistance and simultaneously acts as a switch for controlling the tailgate. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for a separate switch component.
2Ease of operation
If a separate switch is provided for controlling the tailgate, then the tailgate can be controlled externally, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rear-view camera is designed to perform both its primary function of capturing rear-view images and an additional function of serving as a tailgate switch. This eliminates the need for a separate switch component, thereby reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining external tailgate control capability.
3Shape
If the rear-view camera is not located at the center of the vehicle, then a separate switch must be provided, but the camera performance is degraded
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the tailgate switch function into the rear-view camera, the camera can be centrally positioned without requiring a separate switch. This central positioning improves camera performance by providing a symmetric field of view and eliminating the need for screen correction, while the merged functionality maintains tailgate control capability.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of controlling a tailgate using a rear-view camera in a vehicle includes: supplying power to an electric device or an accessory of the vehicle, switching the rear-view camera to a switch mode if the vehicle is in a predetermined state, confirming whether or not brightness of an image captured by the rear-view camera becomes lower than a predetermined range for a predetermined time, confirming a change of brightness of the image using at least one tail lamp or another lamp installed adjacent to the rear-view camera if the brightness of the image becomes lower than the predetermined range for the predetermined time, and opening the tailgate if there is no change of brightness of the image.